Summer Enrichment Activities for Dogs
When the days are long and the sun is high, many dogs slow down. Heat makes everything feel a little heavier, so walks get shorter, shade becomes sacred, and play may start to look more like lounging.
But summer doesn't have to mean boredom. In fact, this season is full of natural enrichment opportunities if you just know where to look.
Below are 5 summer enrichment ideas to help your dog stay curious, cool, and connected to the wild.
1. Dew Walks at Dawn
In the early morning, the world smells different. Cooler air traps scent low to the ground, dew awakens buried smells, and fewer distractions mean you dog can full immerse in the story of the trail or roadside. Let them take their time. Sniffing is the activity.
→ Try this: Let your dog choose the pace and direction. Bring no agenda.
2. Frozen Nature Treats
Create DIY frozen enrichment by layering natural ingredients in ice molds or stuffing a foraging toy and freezing it. Think: plain yogurt, mashed berries, shredded carrots, and bites of protein like cooked salmon or chicken.
→ Try this: Freeze a summer-inspired mash of berries and yogurt inside a toy like the Milkcap Mushroom Interactive Toy for a cool, slow-pace challenge.
3. Lick Mats in the Shade
Licking releases calming endorphins, which can be especially helpful during hot afternoons. Spread a thin layer of dog-safe peanut butter, pumpkin puree, or mashed banana.
→ Try this: Pop the lick mat in the freezer ahead of time and give it to your dog in a shady spot. That way, you can spend time outside while still keeping cool and engaged.
4. Nature-Inspired Nosework
Scatter treats in the grass or in the crevices of tree bark. For indoor play, hide them inside true-to-nature toys that mimic the wild.
→ Try this: Use toys like the Loblolly Pinecone Puzzle Toy to channel natural foraging behaviors indoors or out.
5. Water Play, Wild Style
Not every dog wants to swim, but most love to wade, splash or chase floating toys. Shallow creeks, sprinklers, or even a kiddie pool can light up their water side.
→ Try this: Let your dog "fish" for floating toys in a low basin of water. Our toys float and bounce, perfect for pondside play.
Remember: Summer Enrichment isn't about doing less, it's about doing differently.
By working with the season, not against, you can help your dog stay connected to what they were born to do: explore, forage, play, and feel the world with their whole body.
Even on the hottest days, a little wildness goes a long way.
